The United States President Joe Biden on Sunday said the US
was ‘determined’ to help India in its hour of need, just as India had sent assistance
to the US at the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic in the North American
nation.

The White House, meanwhile, said on Sunday that vaccine
production material, therapeutics, ventilators, testing arrangements and
protective equipment would be sent to India.

Also read: India a ‘devastating reminder’ of damage COVID-19 pandemic can do, says WHO chief

“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our
hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India
in its time of need”, Biden tweeted out on Sunday, retweeting another statement
by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who said that he had
spoken to his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, regarding the situation, and the
two had agreed to ‘stay in close touch in the coming days.’

“The United States has identified sources of specific raw
material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine
that will immediately be made available for India”, meanwhile said a White House
statement by National Security Council member Emily Horne.

Also read: India records 3,52,991 COVID-19 cases, 2812 deaths, in highest single-day spike

US Vice President Kamala Harris, on the other hand, said
that the US was ‘working closely with the Indian government’ to supply them with
additional support.

As part of its assistance, the White House statement further
mentioned that a selected group of public health advisors from Centres for
Disease Control (CDC) and USAID will be working closely with the US Embassy and
India’s health ministry.

Also read: After US, China offers India help to fight second wave of COVID

Significantly, none of these explicitly stated if the help
included sending surplus AstraZeneca vaccines, which, Biden’s Health Advisor
Anthony Fauci, said on Sunday would be considered.

The recent export ban on the vaccine saw backlash from
various parts of society, including celebrities, activists, and experts, who called
for a lifting of the ban in order to aid a massively distressed India.